Tiburon | $3.295 million
A 1974 three-bedroom, three-bathroom home on a 0.3-acre lot overlooking San Francisco Bay
Nearly every room in this home has access to the outdoors, and the expansive deck offers views all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island. The property is a five-minute drive from the Tiburon Peninsula Historical Trail, which winds along the water, as well as a ferry terminal, waterfront restaurants and bakeries in the town center. Paradise Beach Park, which has a fishing pier and a grassy area for picnicking, is 10 minutes away.
By car, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Oakland, San Francisco or Berkeley. Napa Valley is just over an hour away.
Size: 2,409 square meters
Price per square meter: $1,368
Inside: From the driveway, stairs lead up to a wooden gate that leads to a covered terrace and the main entrance.
Through the glass door you enter a foyer with hardwood floors that continues straight into a living room with white painted wood ceilings, a fireplace, an alcove with bookshelves and large glass doors overlooking a patio.
Adjacent to the living room is a dining room with more glass doors leading to the terrace. This room is connected to a kitchen with white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
There are two bedrooms on this level, off a hallway from the foyer. The master bedroom at the far end has glass doors that open to the deck and windows overlooking the side yard. This bedroom and the bedroom next door have access to two full bathrooms across the hallway.
The third bedroom and a full bathroom with walk-in shower are located on the lower level, which is accessed by a staircase between the living and dining rooms. There is also a laundry room and a door to the garage on this level.
Outdoor area: The deck that wraps around the side of the house is large enough for several different dining and seating areas, all with water views. There is also a deck on the lower level. The attached garage has space for two cars.
Steer: 41,181 USD (estimated)
Contact: Howard Wynn, Vanguard Properties, 415-828-9966; vanguardproperties.com
Calabasas | $3.25 million
A 1961 ranch-style home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms on a 1.5-acre lot
Located in the hilly Monte Nido neighborhood, this home is close to hiking and horseback riding trails that wind through the Santa Monica Mountains. It's less than five minutes from Saddle Peak Lodge, a popular restaurant and wedding venue, and a 10-minute drive from an organic grocery store in Erewhon.
It's about a 15-minute drive to Pepperdine University, the beaches in Malibu, or the Commons at Calabasas shopping center. Woodland Hills is 20 minutes away. Santa Monica is about a half-hour drive.
Size: 2,206 square meters
Price per square meter: $1,473
Inside: This house is situated at the end of a quiet road, behind gates opening onto a garden planted with grass, shrubs and mature oak trees. A brick path leads across the lawn to the main entrance.
The front door opens into a living room with polished concrete floors, high ceilings, a white-painted brick fireplace with raised hearth, and glass doors to the rear deck. A short hallway with a window seat connects this room to a study with more glass doors leading to the yard.
The dining room to the left of the entrance is adjacent to an open plan kitchen with polished wood cabinets, white enamel stove with gas hob, dishwasher and stainless steel fridge, colourful patterned tiled splashback and white country style porcelain sink under a bank of garden windows.
The master suite, at the end of a hallway off the dining room, has high ceilings, glass doors that open to the backyard, and a bathroom with white shiplap, a long double vanity, and a walk-in shower with a window. This part of the house also has a guest bedroom; it has a bathroom with botanical-print wallpaper and a freestanding tub.
The third bedroom and en-suite bathroom are located off the living area.
Outdoor area: The new termite resistant wooden deck behind the house provides ample space for dining. The yard behind is landscaped with gravel, grass and mature oak trees and includes a detached building currently used as a gym. There is space to park three cars in the driveway.
Steer: 40,620 USD (estimated)
HOA Fee:$25 per month
Contact: Tracy Lynn Testin, Sotheby's International Realty, Malibu Brokerage, 310-940-5578; sothebysrealty.com
Palm Springs | $3.295 million
A mid-century modern four bedroom, four bathroom home on a 1/4 acre lot
Designed by William Krisel in 1957, this home has been sensitively updated with new copper plumbing, double-pane windows, new electrical, updated bathrooms, and new kitchen appliances. It's located in a neighborhood popular with mid-century celebrities: The House of Tomorrow, designed by Robert Alexander and known for its association with Elvis Presley, is just blocks away, along with homes once owned by Liberace and actress Donna Reed.
Palm Springs International Airport and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which leads to the summit of Mount San Jacinto, are 10 minutes away. The drive to Los Angeles takes about two hours.
Size: 2,659 square meters
Price per square meter: $1,239
Inside: A short, curved driveway leads from the street to a covered front entrance framed by pink-painted lightweight bricks.
From there, a glass door with aquamarine frame leads to the living area, which features tiled floors, a fireplace, a bar area with a lighted back wall, and large sliding glass doors that offer a view of the rear pool. The dining area to the right of the living area has an accent wall with a coral-colored pattern.
The kitchen, also part of this large, open space, features a quartzite waterfall island, light wood cabinets, and stainless steel appliances including a Thermador stove with a custom hood, two ovens, and a wine refrigerator. Also located in this part of the home is a laundry room with a side-by-side washer and dryer, a guest bedroom, and a full bathroom.
Three additional bedrooms are located off a hallway off the left side of the living area. The spacious master suite has an accent wall wallpapered with a bright blue stripe; wide sliding glass doors leading to the pool area; and a bathroom with a walk-in shower with bench seating. The two bedrooms across the hallway have en-suite bathrooms and access to a private walled patio with fire pit.
Outdoor area: The in-ground swimming pool and spa behind the house are surrounded by paving and lawn, with space for lounge chairs and views of tall palm trees. The garden also includes a second fire pit and a dining area partially shaded by a pink pergola. The garage has space for two cars.
Steer: 41,184 USD (estimated)
Contact: James Gault, James Gault & Associates, Compass, 310-621-7765; compass.com
Sign up here for weekly email updates on residential real estate news.